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Full-Text Articles in Entomology

Genetic Variation In Field And Laboratory Populations Of The Spined Soldier Bug, Podisus Maculiventris, Kathleen Kneeland, Thomas A. Coudron, Erica Lindroth, David Stanley, John E. Foster May 2012

Genetic Variation In Field And Laboratory Populations Of The Spined Soldier Bug, Podisus Maculiventris, Kathleen Kneeland, Thomas A. Coudron, Erica Lindroth, David Stanley, John E. Foster

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The predatory spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), is an economically important and highly valued biological control agent. There is substantial information on the biology, ecology, behavior, and rearing of this stink bug. However, virtually nothing is known of its genetic variation, in natural or domesticated populations. To address this lacuna, we used amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) to assess the genetic variability of field and laboratory populations. Four AFLP universal primer combinations yielded a total of 209 usable loci. The AFLP results showed greater genetic variability between populations from Missouri and Mississippi (both USA), and relatively low …


Possible Distorting Effects Of Gef26 In Drosophila Melanogaster, Kaylie C. Church May 2012

Possible Distorting Effects Of Gef26 In Drosophila Melanogaster, Kaylie C. Church

Honors Program Projects

Segregation distortion is a meiotic drive system that results in the favorable inheritance of the SD chromosome over the SD+counterpart. SD produces a malfunctioning form of RanGAP, instead of being able to move in and out of the nucleus this truncated anGAP is unable to be exported and therefore aggregates within the nucleus. This appears to affect RspS during the condensation phase of spermatogenesis, but the exact mechanism for this is unknown. In order to further understand the working components of this system, specific deletions within the second chromosome were studied. The study was conducted systematically by beginning with …


Spatial Genetic Variation Among Spodoptera Frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Sampled From The United States, Puerto Rico, Panama, And Argentina, Difabachew K. Belay, Pete L. Clark, Steven R. Skoda, David J. Isenhour, Jaime Molina-Ochoa, Claudia Gianni, John E. Foster Mar 2012

Spatial Genetic Variation Among Spodoptera Frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Sampled From The United States, Puerto Rico, Panama, And Argentina, Difabachew K. Belay, Pete L. Clark, Steven R. Skoda, David J. Isenhour, Jaime Molina-Ochoa, Claudia Gianni, John E. Foster

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Spatial genetic variability of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), was studied by collecting samples from 31 locations in the United States, Argentina, Panama, and Puerto Rico, and then using amplified fragment length polymorphism to detect genetic variation. Analysis of molecular variance showed significant genetic variation in fall armyworm among all (28%) sample locations and individuals within (71%) sample locations; genetic variation of fall armyworm was minimal between sample locations grouped into regions. The pairwise fixation index (FST) comparisons showed significant genetic differentiation (0.288) among the 31 locations. However, dendrograms of results from cluster …


Comparison Of Two Gelling Agents For Screwworm (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Larval Diets, David B. Taylor Feb 2012

Comparison Of Two Gelling Agents For Screwworm (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Larval Diets, David B. Taylor

David B. Taylor

A sodium polyacrylamide polyacrylate gelling agent, Water-Lock G-400, and a galactan polysaccharide agent, carrageenan, were compared for solidifying larval diets of the screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel). Water-Lock diet produced larger pupae with less larval mortality than did carrageenan diet. Pupae from larvae reared on the Water-Lock diet exhibited higher emergence and produced adults with higher fecundity. Water-Lock diet also produced larger larvae at 56 h after oviposition. Densities in excess of 300 mg of eggs (16,200 eggs) per liter of Water-Lock gelled diet did not increase larval yield but did reduce larval weight and survival.


Mitochondrial Dna Variation Among Muscidifurax Spp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), Pupal Parasitoids Of Filth Flies (Diptera), David B. Taylor, Richard D. Peterson Ii, Allen L. Szalanski, James J. Petersen Feb 2012

Mitochondrial Dna Variation Among Muscidifurax Spp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), Pupal Parasitoids Of Filth Flies (Diptera), David B. Taylor, Richard D. Peterson Ii, Allen L. Szalanski, James J. Petersen

David B. Taylor

Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and sequencing analyses were used to characterize an amplicon of ~625 bp in 4 of the 5 nominate species of Muscidifurax Girault & Sanders, pupal parasitoids of muscoid flies. A single polymorphic nucleotide site was observed among 2 samples of M. raptor Girault & Sanders. No sequence variation was observed among 3 samples of M. raptorellus Kogan & Legner. The sequence of M. uniraptor Kogan & Legner was identical to that of M. raptorellus. Nucleotide divergence among the Muscidifurax spp. ranged from 0.14 to 0.18 substitutions per nucleotide. Muscidifurax zaraptor Kogan & Legner …


Identification Of Screwworm Species By Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism, David B. Taylor, Allen L. Szalanski, Richard D. Peterson Ii Feb 2012

Identification Of Screwworm Species By Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism, David B. Taylor, Allen L. Szalanski, Richard D. Peterson Ii

David B. Taylor

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms in polymerase chain reaction amplified fragments (PCR-RFLP) of mitochondrial DNA were used to differentiate species of New World screwworms (Diptera : Calliphoridae) . Twenty-seven restriction enzymes were screened on five regions of mtDNA . Eleven restriction fragment length patterns differentiated New World screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), from secondary screwworm, Cochliomyia macellaria (F.) . Five restriction fragment length patterns were polymorphic in C. hominivorax while all fragment patterns were fixed in C. macellaria. Diagnostic restriction fragment length patterns were used for species diagnosis, whereas intraspecific variable patterns were used to characterize field samples and laboratory strains . …


Population Genetics And Gene Variation In Primary And Secondary Screwworm (Diptera : Calliphoridae), David B. Taylor, Richard D. Peterson Ii Feb 2012

Population Genetics And Gene Variation In Primary And Secondary Screwworm (Diptera : Calliphoridae), David B. Taylor, Richard D. Peterson Ii

David B. Taylor

Allozyme variation in screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), and secondary screwworm, C. macellaria (F.), populations from northwest Costa Rica was examined . Variability was observed in 11 of 13 enzyme loci and the frequency of the most common allele was <0.95 for 5 loci in screwworm . In secondary screwworm, 12 of 13 loci were variable and the frequency of the most common allele was <0.95 for 6 loci . Expected heterozygosities were 0.149 and 0.160 for screwworm and secondary screwworm, respectively. Goodness-of-fit statistics for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and Wrights F statistics indicated that both species are panmictic with no evidence of …


Genetic And Morphological Comparisons Of New And Old World Populations Of Spalangia Species (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), David B. Taylor, Roger Moon, Gary Gibson, Allen L. Szalanski Feb 2012

Genetic And Morphological Comparisons Of New And Old World Populations Of Spalangia Species (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), David B. Taylor, Roger Moon, Gary Gibson, Allen L. Szalanski

David B. Taylor

The genetic similarity of New and Old World samples of Spalangia spp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) was examined using two ribosomalDNAregions. The species examined were Spalangia cameroni Perkins, Spalangia endius Walker, Spalangia gemina Bouček, Spalangia nigra Latreille, Spalangia nigroaenea Curtis, and Spalangia slovaca Bouček. Two species of Muscidifurax, Muscidifurax raptor Girault & Sanders and Muscidifurax zaraptor Kogan & Legner (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) were included as outgroup taxa. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-1 region was highly variable among Spalangia species with many insertions/deletions making alignment of the sequences difÞcult. The D2-D3 region of the 28s ribosomal gene and the nuclear rDNA 18s gene were …


Assessing Nuclear And Mitochondrial Dna Sequence Variation Within Steinernema (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), Allen L. Szalanski, David B. Taylor, Peter G. Mullin Feb 2012

Assessing Nuclear And Mitochondrial Dna Sequence Variation Within Steinernema (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), Allen L. Szalanski, David B. Taylor, Peter G. Mullin

David B. Taylor

DNA sequence analysis was used to characterize the nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS1 region and a portion of the COII and 16S rDNA genes of the mitochondrial genome from Steinernema entomopathogenic nematodes. Nuclear ITS1 nucleotide divergence among seven Steinernema spp. ranged from 6 to 22%, and mtDNA divergence among five species ranged from 12 to 20%. No intraspecific variation was observed among three S. feltiae strains. Phylogenetic analysis of both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences confirms the existing morphological relationships of several Steinernema species. Both the rDNA ITS1 and mtDNA sequences were useful for resolving relationships among Steinernema taxa.


Identification Of Muscidifurax Spp. By Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism, David Taylor, Allen Szalanski Feb 2012

Identification Of Muscidifurax Spp. By Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism, David Taylor, Allen Szalanski

David B. Taylor

Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of the nuclear ribosomal ITS1 region was used to differentiate Muscidifurax (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) species which are parasitoids of filth fly pupae. Three restriction enzymes, Dpn 11, Mse I, and Taq I, produced restriction patterns which were diagnostic for the four species analyzed, M. raptor, M. raptorellus, M. uniraptor, and M. zaraptor. Seven other restriction enzymes were able to differentiate one or more of the species and can be used alone, or in combination with other enzymes, to verify identifications. No intraspecific variation was observed among the populations examined. The utility of the …


Mitochondrial Dna Variation In Screwworm, David B. Taylor, Allen L. Szalanski, Richard D. Peterson Ii Feb 2012

Mitochondrial Dna Variation In Screwworm, David B. Taylor, Allen L. Szalanski, Richard D. Peterson Ii

David B. Taylor

Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCRRFLP) analysis was used to characterize mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation in screwworms, Cochliomyia hominivorax, and secondary screwworm, C. macellaria, from the Caribbean, North America and South America. Four amplicons, totaling 7.1 kb, were analysed with sixteen restriction enzymes. A total of 133 restriction sites was observed in the two species, 104 in C. hominivorax, of which nineteen were variable, and ninety-five in C. macellaria, none of which was variable. Fourteen mtDNA haplotypes were observed among eighteen C. hominivorax examined. Mean divergence between C. hominivorax haplotypes (d) was 0.0064 …


Population Genetics And Gene Variation Of Stable Fly Populations (Diptera: Muscidae) In Nebraska, Allen L. Szalanski, David B. Taylor, Richard D. Peterson Ii Feb 2012

Population Genetics And Gene Variation Of Stable Fly Populations (Diptera: Muscidae) In Nebraska, Allen L. Szalanski, David B. Taylor, Richard D. Peterson Ii

David B. Taylor

Genetic variation in stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.),populations from Nebraska, Canada, and Texas was sampled. Four of 12 allozyme loci were polymorphic, with an average of 1.7 alleles per locus. Observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.086 and 0.070,respectively. Nei's genetic distance between populations averaged 0.001 and ranged from 0.000 to 0.005. Wright's F statistics revealed greater variation within than among populations. Allele frequencies were homogeneous among temporal samples from a single population. Polymerasechain reaction—restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR—RFLP) analysis of 6.4 kb of the mitochondrial DNA genome with 16 restriction enzymes revealed no variation in stable fly populations from Canada, …


Genetics Of The Screwworm Fly, David B. Taylor, Estela Martinez Cuevas Feb 2012

Genetics Of The Screwworm Fly, David B. Taylor, Estela Martinez Cuevas

David B. Taylor

Three spontaneous eye mutants of Cochliomyia hominivorax, the screwworm fly, are described and characterized. The mutants, yellow eye (ye), orange eye (or), and white eye (wh), segregate independently and are recessive. Yellow eye is recessively epistatlc to orange eye and dominantly epistatic to white eye. All three mutants have complete penetrance, are autosomal, and have little effect on fly viabillty under laboratory conditions.


Comparison Of Gelled And Meat Diets For Rearing Screwworm, Cochliomyia Hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Larvae, David B. Taylor, Robert L. Mangan Feb 2012

Comparison Of Gelled And Meat Diets For Rearing Screwworm, Cochliomyia Hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Larvae, David B. Taylor, Robert L. Mangan

David B. Taylor

A liquid diet solidified with an acrylamide-acrylate polymer gelling agent (Water-Lock) was compared with a standard meat diet for rearing screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), larvae. Size and yield of larvae reared on gel diet were equal to, or greater than, those of larvae reared on meat diet. Duration of larval development was increased by ca. 13 h on gel diet; however, variability of pupal weight and larval survival over generations were reduced when gel diet was used. Larval size was also more uniform over the 3-d period when larvae leave the rearing medium to pupate (crawl-off). Gelled diet was more …


Genetic Similarity Among Pheromone And Voltinism Races Of Ostrinia Nubilalis (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), P. C. R. G. Marcon, David B. Taylor, C. E. Mason, R. L. Hellmich, Blair Siegfried Feb 2012

Genetic Similarity Among Pheromone And Voltinism Races Of Ostrinia Nubilalis (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), P. C. R. G. Marcon, David B. Taylor, C. E. Mason, R. L. Hellmich, Blair Siegfried

David B. Taylor

The genetic variability of seven European corn borer populations, Ostrinia nubilalis, from North America and Europe was assessed by polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCRRFLP) analysis and DNA sequencing. The nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1) region (≈ 500 base pair [bp]) and four mitochondrial (mtDNA) regions (1550 bp total) were examined. The smartweed borer, Ostrinia obumbratalis, and south-Western corn borer, Diatraea grandiosella, were used for comparisons. Of 106 restriction sites identified (80 in mtDNA and 26 in ITS-1), none differentiated geographical populations, pheromone races, or voltine ecotypes of the European corn borer. The lack of variation …


Susceptibility Of House Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Larvae To Entomopathogenic Nematodes (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae, Steinernematidae, David B. Taylor, Allen L. Szalanski, Byron J. Adams, Richard D. Peterson Ii Feb 2012

Susceptibility Of House Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Larvae To Entomopathogenic Nematodes (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae, Steinernematidae, David B. Taylor, Allen L. Szalanski, Byron J. Adams, Richard D. Peterson Ii

David B. Taylor

The potential for entomopathogenic nematodes to control flies in cattle feedlots was determined by screening 40 strains representing 8 species of Heterorhabditis Poinar and 5 species of Steinernema Travassos for virulence toward 3rd-instar house flies (maggots), Musca domestica L. None of the 22 strains of Heterorhabditis infecting maggots caused significant levels of mortality in a filter paper assay. Ten strains of Steinernema infected maggots, of which 7 strains--4 S. carpocapsa (Weiser), 2 S. feltiae (Filipjev), and 1 S. scapterisci (Nguyen & Smart) caused significant mortality. Ten Heterorhabditis strains and 10 Steinernema strains successllly reproduced for 22 generations in maggots. No …


Population Genetics And Gene Variation In Secondary Screwworm (Diptera: Calliphoridae), David Taylor, Richard Peterson Ii Feb 2012

Population Genetics And Gene Variation In Secondary Screwworm (Diptera: Calliphoridae), David Taylor, Richard Peterson Ii

David B. Taylor

Allozyme variation in 4 populations of secondary screwworm, Cochliomyia macellaria (F.), representing North, Central, and South America was examined . Variability was observed in 12 of 13 enzyme loci, and the frequency of the most common allele was <0.95 for 6 loci . Observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.149 and 0.154, respectively. Nei's genetic distances were ≤ 0.001. Goodness-of-fit statistics for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and Wright's FIS statistics indicated random mating within populations . Wright's FST statistics and chi-square contingency analyses indicated homogeneous gene frequencies among the populations. These data suggest that C. macellaria is a panmictic species with high levels …


Gelled Diet For Screwworm (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Mass Production, David B. Taylor, Jimmy C. Bruce, Rene Garcia Feb 2012

Gelled Diet For Screwworm (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Mass Production, David B. Taylor, Jimmy C. Bruce, Rene Garcia

David B. Taylor

A rearing system based on a diet gelled with Water-Lock G400, a synthetic superabsorbent (poly(2-propenamide-co-2-propenoic acid, sodium salt))( WL), was compared with the standard rearing system (liquid diet suspended in acetate fibers) for the mass production of screwworms, Cochlomyia hominivorax (Coquerel). The WL rearing system yielded 2% heavier pupae, 32% higher egg to pupa survival, and required 54% less diet and 88% less labor than the standard rearing system. Other advantages of the WL system include reduced susceptibility to suboptimal environmental conditions and labor practices, and characteristics conducive to centralization and mechanization of rearing procedures.


Sugar Feeding In Adult Stable Flies, David Taylor, Dennis R. Berkebile Feb 2012

Sugar Feeding In Adult Stable Flies, David Taylor, Dennis R. Berkebile

David B. Taylor

Adult stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans L.) are known to feed readily on sugars in the laboratory. However, little is known concerning the extent of stable fly sugar feeding in wild populations. We examined the frequency of sugar feeding in stable flies collected on Alsynite sticky traps in rural and urban environments. In addition, stable flies were visually examined to determine whether blood was present in the gut. In laboratory studies, sugars were detectable with the anthrone technique in stable flies for ~3 d after being imbibed, and blood could be visually detected in the gut for 24-48 h after feeding. …


Response Of Screwworms (Diptera: Calliphoridae) To Changes In The Concentration Of Blood, Egg, And Milk In The Larval Diet, David B. Taylor Feb 2012

Response Of Screwworms (Diptera: Calliphoridae) To Changes In The Concentration Of Blood, Egg, And Milk In The Larval Diet, David B. Taylor

David B. Taylor

Larvae of screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), were reared on diets with varying concentrations of whole dried bovine blood, whole dried egg, and nonfat dried milk. Pupal weight, egg to pupal survival, adult emergence, sex ratio, fecundity, and fertility were significantly affected by one or more of the dietary components. Curvilinear models for the effect of dietary component concentration on life history parameters were derived by multiple regression. Most models resulted in bell-shaped curves that were used to calculate optimal diet component concentrations. Biomass, survival, emergence, and fecundity were maximized at 6% blood, 5% egg, and 1.3% milk.


Distribution Of Genes And Repetitive Elements In The Diabrotica Virgifera Virgifera Genome Estimated Using Bac Sequencing, Brad S. Coates, Analiza P. Alves, Haichuan Wang, Kimberly K. O. Walden, B. Wade French, Nicholas J. Miller, Craig A. Abel, Hugh M. Robertson, Thomas W. Sappington, Blair D. Siegfried Jan 2012

Distribution Of Genes And Repetitive Elements In The Diabrotica Virgifera Virgifera Genome Estimated Using Bac Sequencing, Brad S. Coates, Analiza P. Alves, Haichuan Wang, Kimberly K. O. Walden, B. Wade French, Nicholas J. Miller, Craig A. Abel, Hugh M. Robertson, Thomas W. Sappington, Blair D. Siegfried

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Feeding damage caused by the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, is destructive to corn plants in North America and Europe where control remains challenging due to evolution of resistance to chemical and transgenic toxins. A BAC library, DvvBAC1, containing 109,486 clones with 104 ± 34.5 kb inserts was created, which has an ~4.56X genome coverage based upon a 2.58 Gb (2.80 pg) flow cytometry-estimated haploid genome size. Paired end sequencing of 1037 BAC inserts produced 1.17Mb of data (~0.05% genome coverage) and indicated ~9.4 and 16.0% of reads encode, respectively, endogenous genes and transposable elements (TEs). …


Inbreeding-Stress Interactions: Evolutionary And Conservation Consequences, David H. Reed, Charles W. Fox, Laramy S. Enders, Torsten N. Kristensen Jan 2012

Inbreeding-Stress Interactions: Evolutionary And Conservation Consequences, David H. Reed, Charles W. Fox, Laramy S. Enders, Torsten N. Kristensen

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The effect of environmental stress on the magnitude of inbreeding depression has a long history of intensive study. Inbreeding-stress interactions are of great importance to the viability of populations of conservation concern and have numerous evolutionary ramifications. However, such interactions are controversial. Several meta-analyses over the last decade, combined with omic studies, have provided considerable insight into the generality of inbreeding-stress interactions, its physiological basis, and have provided the foundation for future studies. In this review, we examine the genetic and physiological mechanisms proposed to explain why inbreeding-stress interactions occur. We specifically examine whether the increase in inbreeding depression with …


Morphological Characterization And Molecular Mediated Genetic Variation Of Thief Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Ralph B. Narain, Shripat T. Kamble, Thomas O. Powers Jan 2012

Morphological Characterization And Molecular Mediated Genetic Variation Of Thief Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Ralph B. Narain, Shripat T. Kamble, Thomas O. Powers

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The morphological characterization and molecular genetic variation were determined in populations of thief ants, Solenopsis molesta (Say). The genetic variations were elucidated using mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (mDNA) sequences of cytochrome oxidase I. DNA from thief ants was extracted with Qiagen’s Gentra PUREGENE DNA Isolation Kit using their solid tissue protocol. Polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were run on the extracted DNA using primers Lep-F1 (forward) and Lep-R1 (reverse). The DNA products were concentrated and purified by Microcon Centrifugal Filter Unit YM-100. Purified DNA samples were sequenced at the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences (UAMS) DNA Sequencing Core Facility. The sequences were …


Evolution Of Starvation Resistance In Drosophila Melanogaster: Measurement Of Direct And Correlated Responses To Artificial Selection, Tiffany E. Schwasinger-Schmidt, Stephen D. Kachman, Lawrence G. Harshman Jan 2012

Evolution Of Starvation Resistance In Drosophila Melanogaster: Measurement Of Direct And Correlated Responses To Artificial Selection, Tiffany E. Schwasinger-Schmidt, Stephen D. Kachman, Lawrence G. Harshman

Lawrence G. Harshman Publications

Laboratory selection for resistance to starvation has been conducted under relatively controlled conditions to investigate direct and correlated responses to artificial selection. With regard to starvation resistance, there are three physiological routes by which the trait can evolve: resource accumulation, energy conservation and starvation tolerance. A majority of energetic compounds and macromolecules including triglycerides, trehalose and other sugars, and soluble protein increased in abundance as a result of selection. Movement was additionally investigated with selected males moving less than control males and selected females exhibiting a similar response to selection. Results obtained from this study supported two of the possible …


Economic Impact Of Stable Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) On Cattle Production., David Taylor, Roger Moon, Darrell Mark Dec 2011

Economic Impact Of Stable Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) On Cattle Production., David Taylor, Roger Moon, Darrell Mark

David B. Taylor

Stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), are among the most damaging arthropod pests of cattle worldwide. The last estimate of their economic impact on United States cattle production was published 20 yr ago and placed losses at $608 million. Subsequently, several studies of effects of stable flies on beef cattle weight gain and feed efficiency have been published, and stable flies have become increasingly recognized as pests of cattle on pasture and range. We analyzed published studies and developed yield-loss functions to relate stable fly infestation levels to cattle productivity, and then estimated the economic impact of stable flies on cattle …